St. Augustine, Florida's Nights of Lights Celebration

While many visitors know that St. Augustine, Florida is the nation's oldest city, each year, from November until the end of January the city comes alive in a Grande Illumination Ceremony that is designed not only to celebrate the holidays, but also recognize the fellowship between city residents and visitors. Holiday lightings transform the city's town square and Bridge of Lions into a lighted winter wonderland which makes St. Augustine the perfect destination to view extravagant light displays.

This year's celebration runs from November 17 through January 31, 2007. The main focal point is the city's Plaza de la Constitucion where a display of a Christmas tree is surrounded by over two million white lights. A block away from the plaza, the city's famed, Bridge of Lions allows visitors to walk or drive under a "Nights of Lights" themed illumination of the city, which extends throughout the entire bridge.

While St. Augustine's land is decorated for the holidays, on December 8^th, the sea comes alive with twinkling lights during the Holiday Regatta of Lights celebration. Here, boats compete with each other to win prizes for their creative and colourful displays. The Matanzas Bay front area of the city, between the fort and Bridge of Lions, provides an excellent viewing area and is within walking distance to local hotels.

For even more illumination, the Plaza de la Constitucion comes alive with luminescence in the form of candlelight in early December. First, the Grande Illumination Ceremony recreates a British military Christmas from the mid to late 1700's. This event occurs at night and covers St. Augustine's Historic District with a caroling, walking parade. Then, on December 15^th, the Plaza de la Constitucion also hosts an 18^th Century Christmas Caroling Celebration. Here, carolers gather under the city's millions of lights to sing Christmas Carols by candlelight. While most nightly holiday events begin at 8:00 in the evening, the caroling starts earlier at 6:30.

If you are looking for something to do during the daytime and have the weekend free, consider to driving a short distance to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre's Winter Wonderland. Here, lighted trails combine with jolly Old St. Nick to provide a day of family fun. For the adventurous, an ice skating rink is available for skaters, which charges an $8 fee. Weekends run from November 23 until December 23 from 11 a.m. until 10:30 at night. Afterwards, the Winter Wonderland operates during the same hours, but daily from December 26 through January 1^st.

Finally, a few blocks away from the Bridge of Lions, the St. Augustine Lighthouse comes alive with a bright glow on December 5^th. Luminary Night takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. and features a ground display of luminaries which can be viewed from the top of the lighthouse. This event, like the all of the other events above, is totally free and is very family friendly.

For more information on any of these events, be sure to visit the Nights of Lights schedule of events, which can be viewed at http://www.nightsoflights.com

Source: St. Augustine's Nights of Lights Homepage http://www.nightsoflights.com